Identifying factors related to the formation of test anxiety in high school students and providing improvement strategies

Test anxiety is a type of generalized anxiety disorder that affects students’ academic performance and progress as well as other aspects of their lives.The aim of the study is to identify factors related to the emergence of test anxiety during secondary education and to propose improvement strategies. The study employed a qualitative approach and a systematic review method, following seven main steps (research questions, protocol, search, data extraction, quality assessment, data analysis, synthesis of results) and examining both domestic and international sources such as Springer, Elsevier, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, APA PsycNet, ERIC, and ProQuest Education Database. After reviewing 3,305 sources, 24 selected articles were chosen for final analysis based on criteria such as time frame, quality, and topic relevance. Findings indicate that test anxiety is influenced by seven key factors: students’ individual characteristics, family, teachers, tests, curricular content, classroom environment, and environmental factors. These factors were organized into 41 subthemes, 5 types, and 4 dimensions, derived from about 360 initial codes. Ultimately, one practical strategy to address test anxiety was proposed. A comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach is essential: revising assessment methods, teaching stress management skills, providing emotional support from families, and creating a supportive school environment